Record 66 [Work Thread]

Dale’s Log, #66
I’ve been making a lot more of these. Lots more than before. I mean…before, I only made 13 in 4 months, looking back at when I made the first one. I don’t know what I was thinking back then that I didn’t pay attention to that I the fact I was able to do that, like, how I’m able to go strong like I can. Didn’t…didn’t before now, actually. I wonder why.
Still, now I’m on 66, way more than before…I guess it’s because a lot more has happened? Things are a lot different to before. Back then, things were just eating, sleeping, and fighting when I had to. Harder to get things to eat, with the police stopping me taking things, and people not having much to take where the police weren’t around. Hard to find stuff lying around that people hadn’t taken yet too…though I guess that hasn’t changed. Couldn’t get much money once I learned how it worked either.

Now…I’m getting used to not having to fight or run every time somebody sees me. Most of the time, they say just say stuff instead now. It’s still so, so, weird, but at least I’m not still trying to get away and hide from everyone that seems like they’ll look in my direction. Trying to keep quiet at every moment so people don’t hear me.
I have Enkidu, too! Enkidu’s so, so good. Someone to talk to, to help me…though I guess that’s just talking to myself? Enkidu’s…Enkidu’s me somehow, so I guess that’s right. Me, but not scared, I think he said. I wonder how he can use words I don’t know, though. Or…how he knows what Chip’s thinking sometimes.
He says not to worry about it, but it doesn’t stop me thinking. I’m not worried, I just…want to know how.
He helps me, anyway. Always helpful. Always there. Keeps me safe with Chip, when I need to sleep, when people want to fight. Like…earlier, today. There was a guy down here – smelled funny, dressed a lot nicer than most people. I don’t think they were from the Slums. They were drinking something and acting weird…sounded funny when they talked. Whatever they were drinking had energy for me, at least.
They tried to punch me, but they were really, really bad at it. Then they pulled something out when they tried to hit me – like the thing I took before I got here, though most of the ones here send different things out. Enkidu just showed up to stand in front of it and then made him sleep.

He had a lot of money, which was nice. Good shoes, too. Too bad they didn’t fit.

Makes me wonder…people here are different, more than there being so many types of junc-son here. Never saw something like that smelly guy with the nice shoes before here. I don’t think they’re any less selfish than people back where I was before, but…it’s more like instead of wanting - needing everything I have, they have enough that they don’t think I’m worth going after for anything.
…actually, no…not just that. People talk. I mean, some people could talk before, though there wasn’t a lot of them. But even then…none of them kept talking…the AIs did, but never the people…
Sometimes it took a bit, but eventually, they all ended up like everyone else. Attacking everyone the moment they knew they were there. Trying to get everything they could, from wherever or whoever they could. They moved like before, they could do all the same things, knew the same things…kind of. But they always took as much as they could, however they could. Always tried to hurt and take, even when it would hurt them more than would mean they could be fixed.

What’s different here?

I remember before…there was one place with a lot of food I stayed at for a while. What made it interesting was that there were people there. Not just one – people, not person! Three of them! People that actually helped each other! Fought with each other against everyone else!
They…wouldn’t give me anything, but when I talked, they at least decided not to hurt me as long as I left. Didn’t stop me sneaking by to take food, though…they knew I did it, I think, but couldn’t stop me. Weren’t used to people avoiding fights, not just trying to hurt them for their stuff.
They did catch me a few times, but they couldn’t keep up with me when I got away…being able to jump roofs made it easier, I guess, though I had to be careful not to pick one that’d break. That was noisy, and dangerous.

Still, I hung around them. Think it was…two weeks? Didn’t find Chip yet...that might have something to do with me staying too.
I remember when it happened one morning though…watching for a chance. They met up like they normally did, and…they attacked each other. At the same time, like the weeks before never happened. It actually felt bad to watch. That hoping that there would be more people like that about, maybe some I could be around…gone. Maybe I would, but…would they have been there in two days? Three? If I found them, how long until I woke up to weapons?
I thought then I had to go back to the facility to get what I wanted…get what I had back.
That didn’t work out either though.
Maybe I should have known after what I’d seen.

That…hasn’t happened here. People act like more they did while I was watching them. I’d say it was because of the police people, but…what about them? Why hasn’t the same thing all happened to them? Why doesn’t it happen to people here?
It’s…nice. Nice for now. But I can’t stop thinking I’ll wake up one day, and suddenly everybody in Junction will start being just like what I remember…

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

“Don’t worry about that.” Enkidu’s voice rings out in Dale’s mind, coarse and yet comforting. “This isn’t that place. You don’t have to worry about that any more.”
Dale shifts in his place at the dead end alleyway, laid out on the floor deep within the twisting maze of the slums trying to get comfortable. It made it harder to move the next day if he didn’t sleep right, and it was something he was desperate to avoid as he squirmed on the ground. “How do you know that? What if it will happen, what-“
From his place by Dale, Chip looks at Dale somewhat sadly as he talks, before poking Dale with his head. As the android looks over at Chip, a low, rumbling laugh sounds in Dale’s mind. “Trust me. Even if it did happen, I’m here!”
“…you are.” He reaches a hand, and pets Chip for a moment, before settling down again.
Chip moves on, finding a place he’s content to watch before another pair of eyes settles over his display again. “And I always will be, Dale.”


…I managed once. And I have more now…I’ll do better if it happens.

Good night, me.